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Why America is the Greatest Country in the World (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter TripItUp
- Start date
BladeRunner
Footballguy
Why is that again? Why does your opinion hold any more/less weight than the Canadians I know and talk to? Is it because you're on this message board and they're not?
BladeRunner
Footballguy
BigSteelThrill
Footballguy
KiddLattimer
Footballguy
John Blutarsky
Footballguy
The Gator
Footballguy
Speaking of ignoring facts,TripItUp said:
1. The United States ranks 73rd in the world in terms of immigrants as a percentage of our population
2. Germany probably lays claim to this - with the invention of the printing press.
3. We sat on the sidelines against Nazi Germany, we are treading water, at best against North Korea.
4. As a percent of gross domestic product (GDP), however, U.S. aid spending ranks near the bottom of all developed countries. It accounts for 0.18 percent of GDP, twenty-second out of twenty-eight countries measured by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Sweden, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom all spend 0.7 percent or more of GDP on foreign aid, which is the target set by the United Nations.
5. This is not unique to the United States
6. I have no idea how you are measuring this, it appears to simply be a self-serving statement. Pulling out of the Paris Accord, and failing to take the lead here - assuming you find fault with the Paris accord - is probably a sufficient counter-example to whatever you had in mind.
We have done good things, even great things, but to ignore the flaws in our systems, is to ignore the facts.
We have so much room to improve in education and healthcare alone, that I would be embarrassed for anyone to proclaim our "greatness".
fatguyinalittlecoat
Footballguy
Paging @ren hoek please. I mean, I'm not politically aligned with ren but this is ridiculous. The U.S. has engaged in militarism and exploitation, like, everywhere on the globe. I think you're going to need to flesh out why you think the U.S. has had such a positive global impact.
John Blutarsky
Footballguy
Atomic Punk
Footballguy
M not sure of your sample size of guys you talked to but for the thousands that I live know, work and live with in my part of Canada, this is ridiculous. The only wait times are typically for elective type surgeries ... everything else is virtually immediate. This is based on my own personal family experience, of which there has been a significant need for health services.
fatguyinalittlecoat
Footballguy
The countries they're coming from are usually in bad shape. Often because of stuff that the United States and European countries have done to them in the past.
John Blutarsky
Footballguy
What???? So you are blaming the United States for countries being in bad shape yet they want to move here. Did you believe that when we had Democrats for President? Unreal what some of you come up with.
Apple Jack
Footballguy
See this is why Canada is NOT the greatest country in the world. In THE USA we have freedom you see And what we say is reality. #greatness
Atomic Punk
Footballguy
Add me to the list of those that doesn’t understand the need to define my country as the greatest. It just screams of Little Man Syndrome. America is great. So is Canada. So are a great many other countries. The need to express this just seems so childish and sad ... especially at a time when your greatness has become even more debatable than ever before.
fatguyinalittlecoat
Footballguy
Did I believe what when we've had Democrats for President? That the United States's role in the politics and economics of Latin America has historically had a very negative result in the well-being of the people that live there? Yes, that's not a Trump thing that's an American thing going back many years.
dkp993
Footballguy
I’m as proud to be American as the next guy. This is a great country. Greatest? That’s extremely subjective but I would answer yes imo. BUT, and yes it’s a big but, this isn’t a binary option here. We have some massive warts, deep flaws and appalling history (the slaughter of native Americans and Slavery being the obvious) to work through. Our path right now is tenuous and our greatness needs to shine through. It’s currently not.
When I think of our greatness the days and weeks after 9/11 will always be with me. The sense of community and togetherness that came during that time was something I’ve never experienced in my life, that was America at its best. We are in some desperate need of that right now.
When I think of our greatness the days and weeks after 9/11 will always be with me. The sense of community and togetherness that came during that time was something I’ve never experienced in my life, that was America at its best. We are in some desperate need of that right now.
DocHolliday
Footballguy
This was the greatest country by far but it’s been losing the greatness for decades. One of the problems is the government is two different teams and each team does what it can to win, no matter the cost to the country or citizens. It’s time to make some big changes such as term limits for all positions.
John Blutarsky
Footballguy
BladeRunner
Footballguy
GROOT
Footballguy
Northern Voice
Footballguy
I wouldn't call it a third world country, but Cuba has Universal health care for it's people, a lower infant mortality rate and a (very slightly) higher life expectancy.
BladeRunner
Footballguy
Oof! Another one using Cuba as an example.
How about North Korea while you're at it? Or maybe Venezuela?
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Northern Voice
Footballguy
Well, I'm not American, so I have a different perspective. I've been to Cuba quite a few times. It's a beautiful country, wonderful people for the most part. They obviously have some issues - despite being mostly good people, their leader is abhorrent, plus issues of arbitrary detention, travel restrictions, big problems with their media and news organisations, overcrowded prisons and too large part of the population has troubling views on sexual orientation and gender identity issues but that's not unlike another country I sometimes travel south to visit...Oof! Another one using Cuba as an example.
How about North Korea while you're at it? Or maybe Venezuela?
And to the question at hand, if I had to go to the hospital in one or the other, in most cases I'd choose Cuba.
BladeRunner
Footballguy
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Paraphrasing someone (maybe Bill Maher, even though he is kind of a D bag?) - "Conservatives treat America like a 3 year old views their dad "he can beat up your dad and is perfect and the biggest and strongest and fastest", while Liberals view America like an adult views their dad "he drinks too much and needs to eat less red meat and lose some weight, but I still love him". " Obviously it is an overly broad statement, but there is no reason why we cannot look at a country like Finland and see if we can use some of their ideas to make the US better (and no, it is not because they are ethnically homogeneous, since I know someone will answer that).
I feel it is patriotic to try and make America better, not sit back and just say it is, which is far easier. It does not benefit anyone to lie about the US and pretend it is the most free country in the world or that we have the best healthcare in the world, neither of which are objectively true. At this point we are often out of the top 10 in most positive metrics such as:
Freedom (rank 17) - https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/freest-countries
Happiness (rank 18) - https://worldhappiness.report/news/its-a-three-peat-finland-keeps-top-spot-as-happiest-country-in-world/
Socioeconomic Mobility (rank 27) - https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/ranked-the-social-mobility-of-82-countries-1028885766#
Education in practice - (rank 20 something to ~ 40 based on topic) - https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/15/u-s-students-internationally-math-science/
Heathcare cost / life expectancy (by far most expensive, relatively low life span) - https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/life-expectancy-vs-health-expenditure
Those were literally the first 5 I decided to look up, and we are not even in the top 10 for any of them (to be fair I know the healthcare one would not be favorable ahead of time). Save me from your pointless little flags, those don't make you a patriot or loyal American. Do something to make the US better.
I feel it is patriotic to try and make America better, not sit back and just say it is, which is far easier. It does not benefit anyone to lie about the US and pretend it is the most free country in the world or that we have the best healthcare in the world, neither of which are objectively true. At this point we are often out of the top 10 in most positive metrics such as:
Freedom (rank 17) - https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/freest-countries
Happiness (rank 18) - https://worldhappiness.report/news/its-a-three-peat-finland-keeps-top-spot-as-happiest-country-in-world/
Socioeconomic Mobility (rank 27) - https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/ranked-the-social-mobility-of-82-countries-1028885766#
Education in practice - (rank 20 something to ~ 40 based on topic) - https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/15/u-s-students-internationally-math-science/
Heathcare cost / life expectancy (by far most expensive, relatively low life span) - https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/life-expectancy-vs-health-expenditure
Those were literally the first 5 I decided to look up, and we are not even in the top 10 for any of them (to be fair I know the healthcare one would not be favorable ahead of time). Save me from your pointless little flags, those don't make you a patriot or loyal American. Do something to make the US better.
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Liberal claptrap (that's sarcasm)
In the end if america wants to be a society of selfish individuals than we reap those repercussions but if that's what we want than maybe it makes us the best to those people that want those things. If you want a more cohesive, happy, free and educated society than maybe it's not the best place for you.
Sand
Footballguy
Cuba uses different definitions for infant mortality rate - with the same assumptions the US is better.
Life expectancy is an interesting one. The US does have a few problems. If you ignore suicides, car wrecks, and murders the US is actually right at the top in longevity (which actually says a lot about our healthcare outcomes), and way above Cuba. I guess in this case it pays that all the cars in Cuba are 1960s era.
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Sorry if I missed it, but I don't think anyone has posted Jeff Daniels's answer.
https://youtu.be/4fTkA3dvpPM (NSFW)
https://youtu.be/4fTkA3dvpPM (NSFW)
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First thing that came to mind even though he pronounces Yo Semite incorrectly.
We have jobs at $13-15 an hour Americans don’t want. Packing plants, farm work etc with third world countries at our doorstep with a work force who are willing to work hard.
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OrtonToOlsen
Footballguy
@BladeRunner @TripItUp
Serious question...
Did you guys ever have to miss an entire quarter/semester/year of school for any reason?
Serious question...
Did you guys ever have to miss an entire quarter/semester/year of school for any reason?
BladeRunner
Footballguy
John Blutarsky
Footballguy
Stealthycat
Footballguy
here is why its the greatest - very few countries can you go from nothing to worth 300 million
John was born February 23, 1969[3] in Brooklyn, New York City,[4] but grew up in the Queens neighborhood of Hollis.[5] He began working at the age of 10, when his parents divorced; one early job entailed handing out flyers for $2 an hour.[6][7] In high school, he participated in a program that allowed him to work a full-time job and attend school on an alternating weekly basis, which he credits with instilling an entrepreneurial spirit.[8] After graduating high school, he started a commuter van service and waited tables at Red Lobster.[5][6]
John started FUBU in his mother's house in Hollis, Queens.[9] When John first had the idea for a clothing company for young men, his mother taught him how to sew and supported him by allowing her house to be taken over to grow the business.[10]
Wool ski hats with their tops tied off with fishing line were popular, and John noticed them being sold for $20, which he considered overpriced.[11] He went home and sewed around 90 hats with his next-door neighbor.[12] They sold their homemade hats for $10 each on the corner of Jamaica Avenue and made $800 in a single day in 1992.[13][14] After the hats, they began selling screen-printed T-shirts. To break into the market, they sold on consignment and at large events around the Northeast.[15] To make ends meet, John held a full-time job at Red Lobster, working on the FUBU business in between shifts.[16]
Sensing potential, John and his mother mortgaged their house for $100,000 to generate start-up capital.[14] In addition to Brown, he recruited longtime friends J. Alexander Martin and Keith Perrin into the business, and began sewing the FUBU logo onto hockey jerseys, sweatshirts, and T-shirts.[14] They loaned about 10 of the hockey jerseys out to rappers for their music videos for 2 years and got product placements in about 30 videos.[17] They were perceived as a large clothing brand, despite being a relatively small company and stores started requesting their brand.[15] In 1993, he convinced LL Cool J, an old neighborhood friend, to wear a FUBU T-shirt for a promotional campaign.[18] Later, while filming a 30-second advertising spot for The Gap, LL Cool J wore a FUBU hat in the commercial and incorporated the line "for us, by us" in his rapping.[16][19]
In 1992,[20] or 1994,[14] John received $300,000 in orders and also an offer for participating in Macy's (M) at a Las Vegas fashion trade show, MAGIC.[20] They had to take out a second mortgage of his mother's house in order to fulfill the orders.[15][21] After being turned down by 27 banks for a loan, his mother used the last of their money to take out an advertisement in the NY Times.[22] As a result of the ad, FUBU made a deal with Samsung Textiles, allowing them to complete their orders.[22]
FUBU has earned over $6 billion in global sales.[23]
FUBU is featured at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African-American History and Culture.[24]
As of 2020, Damond John's net worth is estimated to be roughly $300 million dollars.
John was born February 23, 1969[3] in Brooklyn, New York City,[4] but grew up in the Queens neighborhood of Hollis.[5] He began working at the age of 10, when his parents divorced; one early job entailed handing out flyers for $2 an hour.[6][7] In high school, he participated in a program that allowed him to work a full-time job and attend school on an alternating weekly basis, which he credits with instilling an entrepreneurial spirit.[8] After graduating high school, he started a commuter van service and waited tables at Red Lobster.[5][6]
John started FUBU in his mother's house in Hollis, Queens.[9] When John first had the idea for a clothing company for young men, his mother taught him how to sew and supported him by allowing her house to be taken over to grow the business.[10]
Wool ski hats with their tops tied off with fishing line were popular, and John noticed them being sold for $20, which he considered overpriced.[11] He went home and sewed around 90 hats with his next-door neighbor.[12] They sold their homemade hats for $10 each on the corner of Jamaica Avenue and made $800 in a single day in 1992.[13][14] After the hats, they began selling screen-printed T-shirts. To break into the market, they sold on consignment and at large events around the Northeast.[15] To make ends meet, John held a full-time job at Red Lobster, working on the FUBU business in between shifts.[16]
Sensing potential, John and his mother mortgaged their house for $100,000 to generate start-up capital.[14] In addition to Brown, he recruited longtime friends J. Alexander Martin and Keith Perrin into the business, and began sewing the FUBU logo onto hockey jerseys, sweatshirts, and T-shirts.[14] They loaned about 10 of the hockey jerseys out to rappers for their music videos for 2 years and got product placements in about 30 videos.[17] They were perceived as a large clothing brand, despite being a relatively small company and stores started requesting their brand.[15] In 1993, he convinced LL Cool J, an old neighborhood friend, to wear a FUBU T-shirt for a promotional campaign.[18] Later, while filming a 30-second advertising spot for The Gap, LL Cool J wore a FUBU hat in the commercial and incorporated the line "for us, by us" in his rapping.[16][19]
In 1992,[20] or 1994,[14] John received $300,000 in orders and also an offer for participating in Macy's (M) at a Las Vegas fashion trade show, MAGIC.[20] They had to take out a second mortgage of his mother's house in order to fulfill the orders.[15][21] After being turned down by 27 banks for a loan, his mother used the last of their money to take out an advertisement in the NY Times.[22] As a result of the ad, FUBU made a deal with Samsung Textiles, allowing them to complete their orders.[22]
FUBU has earned over $6 billion in global sales.[23]
FUBU is featured at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African-American History and Culture.[24]
As of 2020, Damond John's net worth is estimated to be roughly $300 million dollars.
No just why I think many want to come here. That and to get their families away from drug gangs etc.
The Gator
Footballguy
I guess that makes England the greatest:
J.K. Rowling's Incredible Rags to Riches Story
Poor and almost homeless, the 'Harry Potter' creator eventually became the world's first billionaire author.
What there is unique to the USA? I mean, it is a good story, but it is also a one-off and you can find something for every country and every topic if you stick with a sample size of 1.
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TripItUp
Footballguy
That is literally what social mobility measures, where the US was ranked 27th in the link that I shared. Basically, compared to most wealthy counties, if you are born poor in the US you are more likely to stay poor than if you were born in:
#1 Denmark 85.2
#2 Norway 83.6
#3 Finland 83.6
#4 Sweden 83.5
#5 Iceland 82.7
#6 Netherlands 82.4
#7 Switzerland 82.1
#8 Belgium 80.1
#9 Austria 80.1
#10 Luxembourg 79.8
#11 Germany 78.8
#12 France 76.7
#13 Slovenia 76.4
#14 Canada 76.1
#15 Japan 76.1
#16 Australia 75.1
#17 Malta 75.0
#18 Ireland 75.0
#19 Czech Republic 74.7
#20 Singapore 74.6
#21 United Kingdom 74.4
#22 New Zealand 74.3
#23 Estonia 73.5
#24 Portugal 72.0
#25 Korean Republic 71.4
#26 Lithuania 70.5
Woooo, almost good as Lithuania.
TripItUp
Footballguy
It's a bogus stat..I have to get back to work, but will break this down if I have a chance.
Don't believe everything you read.
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I think this may have been true until the early 1970s or so. More recently, I don't believe the U.S. is near the top in upwards economic mobility.
TripItUp
Footballguy
It depends on how you quantify that. A lot of the stats advocating that come from left leaning institutions trying to promote a certain type of govt.(aka socialism)
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Ilov80s
Footballguy
Stalin was born to a poor agrarian family and ended up owning one of the largest countries in the world. Russia, the land of opportunity. Jokes aside, how are people so sure that there is significantly more opportunity in America than say Asia or Europe? Without living there or knowing people who do, it's hard to really say what opportunities are like in South Korea, Germany, etc.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
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